Setting mechanism for timepieces



' Sept. 29,1936. A. BUGNION ET AL SETTING MECHANISM FOR TIMEPIECES Filed Nov. 10, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet l m 5. Dga lhw Sept. 29, 1936. A. BUGNION ET AL 2,055,572

' SETTING MECHANISM FOR TIMEPIECES Filed Nov.- 10, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 i Egg-g 2,

p 1936- A. BUGNION ET AL' I 2,055,572

SETTING MECHANISM FOR TIMEPIECES Filed Nov. 10, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 2 Mf ,Nverv raRS P 1936- A. BIUGNION ET AL 2,055,5 7?

SETTING MECHANISM FOR TIMEPIECES Filed Nov. 10, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 526 ar/A6" P 1936- A. BUGNION ET AL SETTING MECHANISM FOR TIMEPIECES Filed Nov. 10, 1953 I 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 29, 1936. BUGNION r AL 2,055,572

SETTING MECHANISM FOR TIMEPIECES Filed Nov. 10, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 P 1936. A. BUGNION ET AL 2,055,572

SETTING MECHANISM FOR TIMEPIECES Filed Nov. 10, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Sept. 29, 1936. BUGNIQN ET AL 2,055,572

SETTING MECHANISM FOR TIMEPIECES Filed NOV. 10, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 p 1936- A. BUGNION ET AL 2,055,572

SETTING MECHANISM FOR TIMEPIECES Filed Nov. 10, 1953 1 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented Sept. 29, 1936 PATENT OFFICE SETTING MECHANISM FOR TIIWEPIECES Alexandre Bugnion, Geneva, and Edmond Dgallier, Lausanne, Switzerland Application November 10 In Switzerland N 12 Claims.

This invention relates to time setting mechanism for timepieces and has as its principal object the provision of such mechanism wherein the time indicating members, which are usually connected to a time regulating member, may be disengaged from the regulating member and connected to other members subjected to motive power whereby the indicating members which are not retained by the regulating member may move at a greater speed for time setting purposes.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction and operation as fully set forth' in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In such drawings forming a part of this specification, we have shown our invention embodied in a wrist watch, but it will be understood that the invention can be embodied also in any other type of watch or clock.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic plan view of a time setting device according to the invention and applied to a wrist watch.

Figure 2 is a section along the line 22 of Fig. 1' with the bearing for the arbor l2 shown enlarged.

Figure 3 is a section along the line 33 of Fig. 1, with certain parts omitted.

Figure 4 is a section along the line 1,,with certain parts omitted.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a detail of the device.

Figure 6 is a transverse section of the wrist watch to which the invention is applied.

Figure 6a is a fragmentary transverse section of a watch showing modified operating means for the setting device.

Figure '7 is a plan View of a wrist watch seen from the back and provided with modified operating means for the time setting device.

Figure 8 is a fragment of a section along the line 88 of Fig. 7.

Figure 9 is a plan view of a modified detail part.

Figures 10 and 11 are vertical sections of the same detail taken at right angles to each other.

Figure 12 is a plan view of a further modification of a part of the operating means.

Figure 13 is a section through this modification.

Figure 14 is a still further modification of the operating means.

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic plan view of a mechanism situated beneath the dial of the watch and destined to slow down the speed of the time indicating member during thesetting operation.

4-4 of Fig.

, 1933, Serial No. 697,520 ovember 15, 1932 Figure 16 shows this invention.

Figure 17 is a plan view of a mechanism similar to that shown in Fig. 15 but permitting the indicating members to rotate in a reverse direction at reduced speed.

Figures 18, 19, 20 and 21 are each a diagrammatic plan view of further modifications of a time setting device according to the invention.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, the represented Watch movement comprises a movement plate In and a bridge ll between which is mounted .an arbor l2 carrying a wheel [3 meshing with the pinion [4 of the escapement wheel l5. The arbor l2 carries also a wheel I6 mounted on the arbor through the intermediary of a sleeve I1. An arbor I8 is mounted between two resilient arms l9 and 20 provided on two pieces 2| and 22, respectively. The arbor l8 carries a wheel 23- having a relatively small diameter, a wheel 24, and a small wheel 25. The pieces 2| and 22 are rotatably mounted on sleeves 26 and 21, respectively, surrounding the arbor 12 with some play and screwed to the movement plate l0 and to the bridge II, respectively. The two pieces 2| and 22 are screwed together by a screw 28 after having been exactly positioned by means of a. pin 29. A member 30 is interposed between the two pieces 2| and 22 and is provided with three arms 3|, 32 and 3,3. A spring 34 acts on the arm 33 and consequently on the rigid rocking member constituted by the members 2|, 22, 30 and the arbor l8, and designated as a whole by the numeral 35- in Fig. 2. The pieces 2|, and 22 are provided with two further resilient arms 36 and 3! between which is mounted an arbor 38 carrying a pinion 39.

The wheels 23 and 39 are provided with fine teeth of triangular shape and capable of meshing with a wheel 40 having a large diameter and provided with similar teeth of the same pitch as those of the wheels 23 and 39,. The spring 34 is capable of making the arms l9 and 20 yield for a purpose which will be described later, and this spring must also act with a force such that the radial component of the reaction in the contacting points of the wheels 23 and 39 with the wheel 40 be at least equal to the component of the driving force extending at right angles to the flank of the teeth in mesh with each other to maintain the arbor I8 in driving engagement with the wheel 40. The arbor l8 may carry a seconds hand 14.

Figures 1 and 4 illustrate how the driving force is transmitted to the wheel 40 from a spring bara modification of a part of wheels 23 and All are ,posite side.

rel 4| having a shaft 42. The barrel comprises a disk 43 of considerably larger diameter than that of the spring containing drum and being exactly superposed to the wheel 35. The spring of the barrel may be tensioned by an ordinary hand winding device or by any known self-winding mechanism. The teeth of the barrel disk 13 transmit driving power to the wheel 35 by means of the wheel train 33, 35, 55, ll, 18 and 39, the pinion 59 being loose on the barrel shaft Hand being fixed to the wheel 33. position the pinion 23 meshes with the wheel 35, so that the escapement is actuated by the wheels 24, i6 and I3, while the pinion 39 is out of mesh with the wheel. 39 Simultaneously the wheel 25 transmits the movement to the hands 55 and 51 by the intermediary of a wheeltrain comprising the wheels 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 5?, 58, 59 and 66 (Fig. 3).

Figure 6 shows a watch case in section. The back [ii of the case, which can be distinct of the center ring 52 or welded to this center ring, is so designed that it may resiliently yield through some tenths of a millimeter, to form an operating member carrying a cone-shaped member 63 in its center arranged to act on a lever 55 visible in Fig. l, and mounted on the barrel bridge 55 by means of a pivot screw 55. Figure 6a shows an alternative operating member constituted by a push rod 61 to which is secured a deformable diaphragm 58 welded-to the push rod and with its entire exterior periphery to the center ring 52 of the case. This modified operating means is applied with particularly thick watch cases or with clock cases. The push rod Bl acts on the swinging member 35 by the intermediary of the arm 32, while the lever 64 acts on the arm 31. 1

The operation of the described device is the following: 7

When the yieldable back 55 of the watch case is in its normal position of rest, the end of the lever 54 is urged towards the left in Fig. l by the arm 3! subjected to the action of the spring 33 tending to turn the rocking'member 35 in clockwise direction and holding this member at one end of its stroke, the arm 25 bearing against a stop pin 39 and the arm l9 bearing against a similar 'stop on the opposite side of the movement and which is visible in Figs. 15 and 17 showing modified watch movements as seen from the op- These stops are placed so that when 35 bears against them the in correct mesh. Owing to the fact the rocking member 35 is stopped by the ends of the two arms l9 and 25, these arms yield for a small amount which cannot be represented in the drawings. The members 2! and 22 are so disposed that when the lever 54 is not acted upon by the operating cone 53, the arms 35 and 3? are free and distant from a stop pin :18, and the pinion 39 is not in mesh with the wheel 40, as also the wheel ll on the shaft 33 and the wheel 52 the rocking member are out of mesh.

the wheel 25 transmits the movement by the de-' scribed train to the hands 55, 5!.

In order to separate the driving train from the escapement while having it remain V in driving engagement with the minute train; a pressure is exerted on the yieldable back 5i of the watch case, which pressure is transmitted by the cone 33 to the lever 54 in turn acting on the rocking memher 35; -The primary effect of this action is to In the represented detension the arms I9, 20, but without bringing the wheels 23 and 40 out of mesh with each other. This release of the arms I9, 20 corresponds however to a slight rotation of the swinging member 35 through a sufficient angle to bring the wheel 39 in mesh with the wheel All and the wheel H in mesh with the wheel 52. As soon as these wheels mesh the escapement stops owing to the fact that the wheel 52 cannot turn when meshing simultaneously with the wheels ll and 25. The time indicating members being stopped, a setting operation can now be efiected in the case when the watch has only a few seconds advance over a master clock according to which the watch is to be set, by simply letting the watch stop until the master clock indicates the same number of seconds as the stopped watch, in which moment the back 5| of the watch is released, permitting thus the watch movement to start again. In the great majority of cases however the minute hand must be moved to set a watch. When such a setting operation is to be effected, the back 6! of the watch case will be pressed further inwards, so that the lever 54 turns the rocking member 35 through a sufiicient angle to bring the wheels 23 and 55 out of mesh and also disengage the wheel 25 from the wheel 52. The arms 35 and 37 abut against the stop '75 and will yield while the wheels 39 and H mesh with the wheels 30 and 52, respectively.

-The transmission train from the spring barrel to the hands 53, 5| through the intermediary of the wheel 39 comes now into action. Since the escapement has been disengaged, the speed of this train will be accelerated and this acceleration depends on the inertia of the wheels and on the friction.

In the represented example showing a small watch, the inertia of the wheels is evidently insufi'icient to have the minute-hand move slowenough, that is with an average speed of about one revolution per minute, in order to set the Watch with a precision of about one fifth of a minute. In order to permit a slow movement of the hands, a spring brake member 12 may be provided as shown in Fig. 5. This member is arranged so that the braking action is a maximum at the moment of release of the time setting train and decreases when the movement of the swinging member 35 continues in the direction in which the arms 35, 31 are applied against the stop 10, which happens when the watch must be set for an amount of an hour or more and a relatively 'quick movement of the hands is required. For this purpose the spring brake 12 exthe stop it, yields to let the rigid parts of the rocking member turn slightly further.

In this manner the driving force exerted from the barrel spring on the minute train can vary from zero to a maximum value. The spring brake l2 acts radially on the disk 13. Without departing from the scope of the invention any other braking device may be employed of which the braking action depends on the position of the rocking member 35.

The hands of the watch will turn as long as a sufficient pressure is exerted on the back (ii of the watch case. When this pressure decreases, the rocking member 35 turns in clockwise direction, the arms 36, 31 being detensioned and the arms I9, 20 approaching the wheels '40 and 52. During this time, when a braking spring as in Fig. 5 is used, the speed of the hands decreases under the increased action of the spring brake 12 and by suddenly releasing the back 6| at the desired moment, the watch can be set with precision.

It is also possible to-decrease the pressure on the back 6| to that degree only which is necessary to have both wheels 1| .and'25 meshing with the wheel 52 to stop the minute train slightly in advance of the correct time and then wait until the .position of the seconds hand corresponds exactly to that of the master clock before fully releasing the back 6|. .In this case the minute-hand must be stopped at a position corresponding to the fraction of one minute indicated by the seconds hand. It is seen that the action of the push rod 61 on the lever 32 integral with the member of the rocking member .35 will have the same effect as the action of the lever 64 on the lever 3|.

In Figure 18, a driving motor for efiecting the setting is independent of the ordinary driving motor of the clockwork. A supplemental spring moves the minute train for setting purposes without stopping the principal clockwork train. This can be obtained by arranging the cannon pinion and the'hour wheel as shown in Fig. 4, that is to say by mounting the cannon pinion not on a wheel of the principal train, but by connecting this pinion to the principal train by means of an intermediate gear carried by a clutch mechanism which can exchange the connection of the can- 'non pinion with the principal train for the connection with the supplemental spring motor.

Fig. 18 shows an arrangement which may be used in connection with a clock movement. The principal train includes a spring barrel |4| with a mainspring holding pawl I42, the barrel driving a train of wheels I43, I44, I45 and I46 which latter wheel is ordinarily connected to a wheel I40 carried by a clutch or rocking member similar to the member 35 described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. The wheel I46 is also connected to an escapement device I41. The supplemental spring motor comprises a barrel I48 with a spring holding pawl I48, this barrel being connected to a train of wheels I49, I50, 'I5I, the latter wheel having teeth of the same pitch as those of the wheel I40, so that upon a rocking movement of the clutch member '35 the wheel I can mesh with the wheel |5| to connect the barrel I48 to the cannon pinion wheel I39 for time setting purposes. The clutch member 35 carries an arm I65 provided with a pawl I66 which holds the wheel |5| against being moved by the barrel I48; the wheels I49 and I50 are thus also looked. When the clutch member 35' is rocked to bring the wheel I40 into mesh with the wheel |5|, the pawl I66 is disengaged from the wheel |5|. The body of the pawl I66 is provided with a slot I61 engaging with a fixed pin I68. In this manner the arm |65cannot transmit the force of the spring barrel M8 to the clutch member 35' and cause any undesired rocking movement of this member. Any other means for holding the wheel train connected to the barrel I48 against movement when not used for effecting a setting operation may be employed, the pawl structure shown in the drawings forming no part of our present invention. In order to prevent the hands I68 from turning too fast when the clutch device 35 is shifted to set the hands, a speed regulating member is combined with one of the wheels of the setting train. The wheel I49 meshes with a pinion |69 of an escapement wheel I10 which coacts with a recoil anchor |1| secured to a toothed sector I12 meshing with a pinion I13 of a flywheel I14.

By means of an analogous mechanism it is possible to utilize that end of the main spring for setting purposes, which is not connected to the train ending at the movement regulating member. Instead of utilizing the power of the main spring for effecting setting of the watch by disengaging a portion of the principal train as is the case in the described example, the setting movement of the hands could be efiected by simply disengaging the ordinary minute train from the principal train and engaging this minute train with a wheel in driving connection with that end of the main spring which is not connected to the movement train.

Such a construction is represented in Fig. 19 showing a watch movement mounted on a movement plate I15. The mainspring barrel I16 is connected to an escapement wheel I11 by the intermediary of a wheel train composed of a pinion I18, the center wheel I19, pinion I80, wheel IBI, pinion I62, wheel I83 and pinion I84. The es capement wheel I11 coacts with an anchor I85 and a balance wheel I86. The pinion I82 is connected to the hands of the watch by a wheel train composed of wheels I81, I88, I89, pinion I90, wheel I9I, pinion I92, wheel I93, pinion I94, cannon pinion wheel I and cannon pinion |96. This latter is connected by a wheel I91 and pinion I98 to the hour wheel I99. Winding of the watch is effected as usually by means of the stem 200 carrying a winding pinion 20| meshing with a wheel 202 engaging with the ratchet 203 of the spring barrel.

The wheel I88 is carried by a clutch member 35" which can rock about an arbor I2. This clutch member carries a second wheel 204 which is normally in mesh with a wheel 205 rigid with a pinion 206 meshing with a wheel 201 fast on the wheel 202. In order to hold the main spring against unwinding, a pawl 208 coacts with the wheel 264 carried by the clutch member 35" and is maintained in engagement with this wheel by a spring 209 carried by the clutch member. An arm 2|0, rotatably mounted on a screw pin 2| I, bears on the winding pinion 20| and has its free end abutting against the the rocking member 35". When the stem 200 is pulled outwardly, the arm 2|0 swings also outwardly and rocks the clutch member 35" about the arbor I2. The wheel I88 carried by the clutch member disengages from the wheel I81 and engages with the wheel 205 while remaining in mesh with the wheel I89. Simultaneously the wheel 204 carried by the rocking member is disengaged from the wheel 205 and therefore the winding ratchet 203 of the spring barrel is not held any more by the pawl 208 against being unwound. The winding ratchet drives the wheel I88 by the intermediary of the wheels 202, 201, 206 and 205, while the movement of the wheel I88 is transmitted, as just described, to the hands of the watch to effect a setting movement thereof. The provision of the pawl 208, the wheel 201 and the arm 2H: forms no part of our present invention.

In order to prevent the hands of the watch from racing too fast when they are connected to the spring barrel ratchet and accordingly disconnected from the ordinary regulating device, a supplementary regulating or braking device is provided, which is put into action when the clutchmember 35 is shifted to eiTect a setting operation. This regulating device is mounted on an arm 2I2 rotatable on a screw pin H3, and comprises a pinion 2M carrying an escapement wheel 2I5 with which coacts a recoil anchor 2I6. This anchor is secured to a toothed sector 2I'I meshing with a pinion 2I 8 rigidly connected to a train. When the setting operation is finished,

the stem 2% is pushed back and a spring 34" moves the clutch member 35" back into its previous position shown in Fig. 19.

A part of the setting train is preferably mounted to be independent of a part of the principal train described with reference to Figs.

1 to 4, as has been shown in the example, so that the multiplicating ratio of the wheel train between the spring barrel and the hands will be greater while the hands are set than during normal running of the watch. In the described example the diameter of the wheel II is three times longer than that of the wheel 25 connecting the barrel to the escapement. In this manner the barrel can turn the hands for an amount corresponding to twelve hours in a setting operation, while the main spring has been deenergized only for. an amount corresponding to four hours normal running of the clockwork.

The described mechanism has the advantage of simplifying the time setting operation in a watch, since a simple pressure is sufiicient to release the relatively rapid movement of the hands which move quite by themselves into the desired position. Particularly in wrist watches where the setting operation by means of the usual setting stem is often difiicult to effect, the described mechanism will be appreciated. The use of the yielding back ESI of the watch avoids the necessity of having a hole in the watch case for the setting stem which hole enables moisture and dust to penetrate into the movement.

The invention is however not limited to selfwinding watches only, and can be employed also advantageously in watches having an ordinary winding stem, the described time setting mechanism could then be put in action by the ordinary operating member which is usually used to effect setting, as the winding stem, or any other sliding or rotating member.

Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 20 representing a watch movement similar to that shown in Fig. 1. The clutch member 350 is again provided with two arms 20 and 37, the arm 28 carrying a wheel 23 and the arm 31 carrying a wheel 39. According to the position of the clutch member 350 one or the other of the two wheels 23 or 39 can mesh with a driving wheel 46 connected to the main spring barrel, not shown. The position of the clutch member 350 is controlled by the winding and setting stem I35 which engages one arm of a setting lever I34, the other arm of which carries a pin I36 engaging with a notched edge I3'I of an arm 35a rigidly connected to the clutch member 350 capable of rocking about the arbor I2. The lever with reference to Fig. 1.

I34 and arm 35ajform however no part of our present invention, and other means could be used for connectingthe winding and setting stem to the clutch member 350.

In the position shown in Fig. 20 the wheel 23 meshes with the. driving wheel 40 and the wheel lever I3 3 moves the arm 35a which causes a rocking movement of the clutch member 350 about thearbor I2.

The wheel 23 disengages from the wheel 40 and the wheel 39 meshes with this wheel.

The wheel 7I rigid with the wheel 39 meshes then with thewheel 52, while the wheel 25 is out of mesh with the Wheel 52, and setting of the hands can be eifected as had been described Owing to the action of. the spring 34 on an arm 33 of the clutch member 350, the pin I35 is yieldingly maintained in the notch of the edge I37 of the arm 35a. into which it had been brought by the actuation of the winding and setting stem I35;

In tower clocks the described setting mechanism can be associated with electromagnetic operating devices permitting setting by remote control and avoiding climbing the towers every time the clock isto be set.

Figure 21 shows an electromagnetic control device for the rocking member 35b. An electromagnet I5 cooperates with a core I53 pivoted on the rocking member 35b urged, in counterclockwise direction by a spring I52. The force of traction exerted by the core I53 on the rocking member may be controlled by a regulating resistance having an operating member I 55 and four contact blocks I56, I51, I58 and.I59. When contact is established between the operating member and the first block the hands of the clock are stopped; contact with the second block corresponds to reverse movement of the hands, contact with the third block corresponds to small forward movement and contact with the fourth block to fast forward movement of the hands, the rocking member 351) coacting with a changespeed device similar to that shown in easy reach of the person having care of the tower clock, while the electromagnet and the rocking member 3511 will be placed in the clockwork.

Figs. '7' and 8 show a modification of the operating means for the setting mechanism. A resilient lid or diaphragm I5 is welded all around the peripheryof the center ring I52 to form a tightly fitting interior back. This lid carries a button It riveted or welded thereto. This button is provided with a conical recess TI in which is partly engaged a cone 78 carried by a lever 19 mounted on the bridge 65 of the movement. A rigid back 80 covers the lid I5 and carries an operating device comprising a pin8I rotatably carried by the back 80 and to which issecured a lever 82 externally of the back, while inthe interior the pin SI carries a disk 83 provided with -1 W n the button r h w ward by the cam, its recess acts on the cone 18 to slightly turn the lever 19 which acts against the arm SI of the rocking member 35 and the time setting train will then be put in action as previously described.

Figures 9 to 14 represent other modifications of operating means. In Figs. 9 to 11 the operating button I6. is moved by means of a sliding rod 85 provided with a cam surface 86 and guided between pins 81 and in a collar 88 secured to the back 80 of the watch case. The rod 85 projects out of the watch case so that it can be manually operated. In Fig. 9 the rod 85 has a threaded portion 89 screwing into a nut 90 rotatably fixed to the wall of the watch case, so that rotation of the nut will result in a longitudinal movement of the rod and the cam 86 acts on the button I6 carried by the resilient diaphragm I5. In Fig. the rod 85 is provided with a head 9| permitting the rod to be pulled.

According to Figs. 12 and 13, the operating member is constituted by a rotatable operating rod 92 carrying a pallet 93 for bearing on the button I6, and an operating button 94. The rod 92 turns in bearings 95 fixed to the back 80 of the watch case.

In Fig. 14 it is shown that the diaphragm I5 can be fixed to a projection 96 of the center ring 62, while the back 80 of the case is entirely fiat, In this case the operating rod 91 projects through the center ring and not through the back.

Figures 15 and 16 illustrate a modified mechanism which permits the hands to move slowly without requiring a braking spring as shown in Fig. 5. This mechanism comprises a rocking lever 98 mounted on the pivot 99 and carrying regulating members between a face thereof and a bridge I00 screwed to the rocking lever. The regulating members comprise an escapement wheel [M with its pinion I02, and a recoil anchor I03 fast on a toothed sector I04 meshing with a pinion I05 of a flywheel I06. The rocking lever 98 is subjected to the action of a spring I91. An extension I08 of the lever 98 bears against an arm 32 of the rocking member analogous to that described with reference toFig. 1 and connected to any of the described operating means. The extension I08 of the lever 98 is provided with a cam surface comprising surface portions I09, H0, III and H2. The portions. H0 and H2 .are substantially cylindrical and have as center the center of rotation I2 of the rocking member 35.

The operation of this device is "as follows: When the rocking member 35 turns in clockwise direction, the yieldable .arm I9, which has been under tension because applied against the stop 69 by the action of the spring 34., is detensioned. Simultaneously the pinion 39 is brought to mesh with the wheel 40, and the wheel 'II with the wheel 52, while the end of the arm 32 falls off from the extension I08 and comes to bear on the surface H0 of thisv exension, the spring I01 turning the lever 98. This movement of the lever has brought the pinion I02 in mesh with the wheel 54. As explained with reference to Fig. 1, all the wheels stop. in this moment since the wheel 52 meshes with both wheels II and 23.

When the movement of the rocking member 35 continues, the arm 36 isv applied against the stop I0 and yields, while the pinion 23 disengages from the wheel 40. The wheels of the minute train are now released but connected to the pinion I02. The wheel IOI acts on the anchor I03 and makes it, oscillate as also the flywheel I06. Resilient stop members I I3 are adjustably mounted on the lever 98 to permit the variation of frequency of the anchor oscillations.

The described mechanism is adjusted in such a manner that the minute-hand. when the parts are in the position referred to above in which the end of the arm 32 bears against the surface III makes about one revolution per minute so as to be distinctly perceptible and so that the maximum error over correct time when releasing the operating member. due to the period of physiological reaction of about one fifth of a second, be not more than one fifth of a minute. When the hands of the watch have to be advanced for a small amount only, the operating member of the setting mechanism will be left in the position corresponding to such slowed down speed of the hands. If however the hands are to be turned through an angle corresponding to several hours, therocking member 35 is made to turn further in clockwise direction, so that the arm 32 acting against the surface I II of the lever 98, turns this lever slightly to bring the pinion I02 out of mesh with the wheel 54. The speed regulating device being now out out, the minute-hand of the watch turns very rapidly and in order to stop this rapid movement at approximately the desired moment, the hour-hand is watched. When this moment arrives, the rocking member 35 is slightly released so that the spring 36 brings it back into the position where the arm 32 bears against the surface H0 and the pinion I02 connects the regulating device to the train and correct adjustment of the hands is obtained by having them move with their slow speed into the desired position whereafter the rocking member 35 is completely released. This has the effect that the arm 32 acting against the surface I09, pushes the lever 98 back into its initial position shown in Fig. 15.

When it is desired to make the position of the seconds hand exactly correspond with that of the seconds hand of a master clock, the minutehand is stopped slightly in advance over correct time, and the operating member for the rocking member 35 is not fully released but maintained in the position in which the rocking member is so disposed that both pinions 23 and 39 mesh with the wheel 40 to prevent any movement of the minute train until the position of the seconds hand corresponds to that of the seconds hand of the master clock.

In the modification represented in Figure 16 a centrifugal force governor is used as speed regulating member for the minute train during setting operation. This governor comprises a train of two wheels mounted on the rocking lever 98, one of the wheels being the pinion I02 which can be brought to mesh with the wheel 54 of the minute train. A wheel H4 is mounted for rotation with the pinion I02 .and meshes with a pinion H5. Two flexible arms H6 are mounted for rotation with the pinion I I5 and carry weights I I! which upon rotation of the pinion expand and slide along the wall of a fixed brake drum H8.

The pinion 55 and the wheel 55 corresponding to the equally numbered parts in Figs. 1 and 15 are however not meshing directly with each other. The wheel 56 meshes with an intermediate wheel I I9 having teeth of the same pitch as those of the wheel 55 and mounted on a lever I20 turning on the axis I2I. The wheel H9 meshes continuously with the wheel 56 and normally with the pinion I22 rotatably mounted on the not represented movement plate. The wheel I26 constantly meshes with the wheel 54 supposed to rotate in the direction of the arrow I and imparting rotation to the wheel I25 in the direction of the arrow 2.

The arm 32 of the rocking member 35 is provided with a finger I23 controlling the position of the lever I28 subjected to the action of a spring I25 and provided with a notch I 25. The wheel I26 turning with the pinion I22 can be brought into mesh with the pinion I02 of a regulating member similar to that described with reference to Fig. 15.

When the rocking member 35 is actuated for efiecting a setting operation, the finger I23 moves towards the notch I25 and the spring I24 turns the lever I so that the notch I25 engages over V the surface II ll bearing against the end of the 20 arm 32. The wheel I I 9 is actuated by the pinion 55 in the direction of the arrow 3 and imparts rotation to the wheel 56 in the direction of the arrow 5 which corresponds to counterclockwise A rotation of the hands because the watch movement is seen from the back.

If however the hands have to be advanced instead of being turned backwards, the rocking member 35 is suddenly moved with a greater force so that the notch I25 has not the necessary time to fall over thefinger I23, and the lever I20 will abut with the surface I2'I against the finger I23, while the end of the lever 32 remains still in contact with the surface I ID of the lever 98 in which position the regulating member carried by this lever is still connected to the minute train, so that a slow speed in clockwisedirection is now obtained for the hand, as the wheel II9 turns now in the direction of the arrow 4 and meshes with the pinion I22, driven by the intermediary of the wheels 55 and I25, and turns the wheel 56 carrying the minute hand, in the direction of the arrow 6. When a setting operation of an amount corresponding to several hours has to be made, the

. rocking member 35 is still turned further until the arm 32 cooperating with the surfaces I II and a move at a rapid speed.

When the rocking member 35 is released, the same functions as above explained will be produced in reversed order, and when the hands have beenstopped somewhat in advance of correct time, the rocking member can be set to obtain a rearward movement of the hands before it is completely released.

We claim:-

1. In setting mechanism for timepieces having timeindicating members normally moved by a wheel train connected with a speed regulating member, a power driven driving member for said wheel train, a coupling device normally connecting the time indicating members to the speed regulating member and to said power driven member, and operating means for actuating said coupling device to temporarily disconnect the time indicating members from the speed regulating member and to establish connection between the time indicating members and said driving member.

2. In setting mechanism for timepieces having time indicating members moved by a wheel train normally connected to a speed regulating member, a driving member for said train, a coupling member capable of a to-and-fro movement, operating means for holding the coupling member n.

either of the two extreme positions of its to-andfro movements, a plurality of wheels carried by 'the coupling member, two of said wheels establishing communication between the time indicating members and the speed regulating member upon the coupling member being in one of the extreme positions of its to-and-fro movement and disconnecting the time indicating members from the speed regulating member upon the coupling member being in the other of its extreme positions, and two other of said wheels establishing communication between the time indicating members and said driving member upon the coupling member being in said second mentioned extreme position.

3. In setting mechanism for timepieces having time indicating members moved by a wheel train normally connected to a speed regulating mem her, a driving member for said wheel train, a coupling member mounted for a to-and-fro movement, operating means for moving said coupling member into either of the two extreme positions of its to-and-fro movement, said coupling member having two yieldable arms, a pair of wheels carried by each arm, one of said wheel pairsconnecting said driving member to the time indicating members and to the speed regulating member upon the coupling member being in one of the extreme positions of its to-and-fro movement,

and the other wheel pair connecting said driving member 'to the time indicating members upon the coupling member being in the other of its extreme positions.

4. In setting mechanism for timepieces as define-d in claim 3, the feature that said two pairs.

of wheels carried by the coupling member have difierent transmission ratios.

' 5. In setting mechanism for timepieces having'time indicating members moved by a wheel train normally connected to a speed regulating member, a driving member for said wheel train, a coupling member mounted for effecting a to-andfro movement, operating means for moving said coupling member into either of the two extreme positions of its to-and-fro movement and into anintermediate position, said coupling member having two yieldable arms, a pair of movement transmission wheels carried by each arm, the transmission ratios of the two wheel pairs being diiferent,one of said wheel pairs connecting said driving member to the time indicating members and to the speed regulating member upon the coupling member being in one of its extreme positions, and the other wheel pair connecting the driving member to the time indicating members upon the coupling member being in the other of its extreme positions in which the first mentioned wheel pair is disconnected from the driving member, and both said wheel pairs being connected to the driving member upon the coupling member being in intermediate position to thereby stop said wheel train.

6. In setting mechanism for timepieces having time indicating members moved by a time train normally connected to a time speed regulating member, a power driven driving member for said time indicating members, a coupling member movable for temporarily disconnecting the time train speed regulating member from the time indicating members whereby to permit said driving member to move the time indicating members independently of the time train speed regulating member, a setting speed regulating member, and means operable upon disconnection of the time train speed regulating member 75 and cooperating with said coupling member for operatively connecting said setting speed regulating member to the time indicating members.

7. In setting mechanism for timepieces having time indicating members moved by a time train normally connected to a time train speed regulating member, a power driven driving member for said time indicating members, a coupling member movable for disconnecting the time train speed regulating member from the time indicating members whereby to permit said driving member to' move the time indicating members independently of the time train speed regulating member, a setting speed regulating member, a movable support for said setting speed regulating member, and means operable upon disconnection of the time train speed regulating member and cooperating with said coupling member for moving said support and operatively connecting said setting speed regulating member to the time indicating members.

8. In setting mechanism for timepieces having time indicating members moved by a wheel train normally connected to a speed regulating member, a power driven driving member for said time indicating members, a coupling member movable for disconnecting the speed regulating member from the time indicating members whereby to permit said driving member to move the time indicating members independently of the speed regulating member, a train of wheels between said driving member and the time indicating members, a movable support carrying one of the wheels of the train, means operable upon disconnection of the speed regulating member and cooperating with said coupling member for moving said support to have said wheel mesh with one or the other of two wheels of the train which turn in opposite direction and to thereby make the time indicating members move in one or the other direction.

9. In setting mechanism for timepieces having time indicating members moved by a wheel train normally connected to a speed regulating member, a power driven driving member for said time indicating members, a coupling member movable to disconnect the speed regulating member from the time indicating members, and operating means for actuating said coupling member, said operating means including a resilient wall forming a part of the time piece casing and actuating said coupling member upon being deformed.

10. In setting mechanism for timepieces having time indicating members moved by a wheel train normally connected to a speed regulating member, a power driven driving member for said time indicating members, a coupling member movable to disconnect the speed regulating member from the time indicating members, operating means for moving said coupling member, said operating means including a resilient Wall mounted within the timepiece, cam means operable from the exterior of the timepiece to deform said resilient wall, cam means mounted on the timepiece internally of said resilient wall and operatively connected to said coupling member, and means on the wall engaging said second mentioned cam means whereby said coupling member is moved upon deformation of said wall.

11. In setting mechanism for timepieces, time indicating members, a train of wheels operatively connected to said members, two driving wheels adapted to alternately actuate said train of wheels, a speed regulating device operatively connected to one of said driving wheels, a coupling device normally connecting said train of wheels to that one of the two driving wheels connected to the speed regulating member, and operating means for actuating said coupling device to temporarily disconnect said train of wheels from the driving wheel connected to the speed regulating member and to engage said train with the other of said driving wheels.

12. In setting mechanism for timepieces having a motor driven wheel train actuating time indicating members normally connected to a speed regulating member, a supplemental motor, and coupling means operable to disconnect the time indicating members from the speed regulating member and for connecting the supplemental motor to the time indicating members.

ALEXANDRE BUGNION. EDMOND DEGALLIER. 

